Android-powered car computers get software package from Intel’s Wind River

Embedded systems company Wind River has announced the availability of an …

Wind River has announced a new software package for building Android-based automotive computing systems. The framework consists of several components, including a custom home screen interface that is tailored for cars, an FM radio control implementation, and support for interacting with docked iOS devices.

The new package is part of Wind River’s Android "solution accelerator" lineup. Wind River is an embedded systems company that is owned by Intel. As some readers might recall, we first reported on Wind River’s Android enhancements in January when the group released a module for adding overlapping windows to Google’s mobile operating system.

The new Android automotive package is aimed at enabling "in-vehicle infotainment" (IVI) experiences, which means supporting front-seat navigation and back-seat entertainment. Intel has been interested in that market for a long time, but its previous efforts in the space were largely focused on Moblin and MeeGo. It was one of the few areas where MeeGo seemed to be gaining meaningful industry traction.

Android’s relative flexibility and sophisticated navigation software make it seem like it has the potential to be a good choice for car manufacturers when the IVI concept finally starts to see serious adoption. Wind River’s software supplies a few of the missing pieces that the automotive industry will need in order to bring Android to the front seat.

Hm... I own and very much enjoy my Android phone, but I wouldn't trust it with my car navigation/entertainment. I can live with not being able to upgrade my phone, which means not being able to get some newer apps, I can live with force-closes, slow UI, etc. Let's face it, pretty much all Android phones have their occasional hiccups. I don't want to deal with that while driving. Imagine the distraction potential!

No mention of CANBUS support. That's a shame, my Audi (and many European and Japanese cars) use it for the steering wheel controls and driver info system updates. It's about the only good thing about the navigation system.

But I guess because Ford and GM don't use it, Intel doesn't know it exists. Oh, wait, Intel and Bosch invented it. Maybe the Android department could get in touch with the CANBUS department and set up a meeting.

Unless these infotainment systems get updated on a regular basis for at least 5 years this will be a big fat fail. If the smartphone industry is anything to judge by, there isn't much chance of that. I will pass until they prove me wrong.

I currently use these systems to watch unauthorized performances of copyrighted works. I drive around until I find a car with the kids watching a movie we all wanted to see, then we follow them until the movie is over.

Hm... I own and very much enjoy my Android phone, but I wouldn't trust it with my car navigation/entertainment. I can live with not being able to upgrade my phone, which means not being able to get some newer apps, I can live with force-closes, slow UI, etc. Let's face it, pretty much all Android phones have their occasional hiccups. I don't want to deal with that while driving. Imagine the distraction potential!

I'm guessing that what you're allowed to do while driving would be very limited. Slow UI, ...? I entered the Android world with the Galaxy S2, I'm guessing that you're running on some earlier hardware. Things have seemed to really mature in more recent history.

Unless these infotainment systems get updated on a regular basis for at least 5 years this will be a big fat fail. If the smartphone industry is anything to judge by, there isn't much chance of that. I will pass until they prove me wrong.

I would hope updates are part of the plan. That, and some kind of always-connected wireless provided for free. At the very least, the ability to tap into wifi, so that you could receive updates over your home network.

(Jeez. I can't believe I just typed that. Updating the car over wifi...)

Interestly, or oddly, I have a Ford with Sync by Microsoft... Which is this very deal. Yes it supposedly can deal with iOS devices and MP3 players... I happen to have MyFordTouch, which has Wifi and can be a Wifi Gateway..... I guess so you wouldn't have to add every Wifi network you happen to drive by, to your Wifi device you might be using inside the car.... Or more likely because you can plug a USB cellular modem in to the car and then use it to share the data connection with your Wifi devices.

It can do a lot, it just does not do much of it well. Functions stop working, regularly. It reports little information about the car (A GM car with a far less feature rich system will tell you a lot more, as well a Subaru.) I guess, I do not see how the Android would be any worse. Honestly, if the MyFordTouch did 1/10th of what my Android Tablet can do, it would be a very impressive system. Far more impressive than what the device is capable of now.

Did I mention it requires your phone, to make a call out on, to handle Navigation or Weather or any information service? It does handle voice prompts.... I honestly like it, I just wish it was within 6 or 7 years of where technology currently exists... Such as on the front of some refrigerators.